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The Sun
05-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
I landed on D-Day with 130 comrades but a year later only 19 went home – my story must NEVER die with me
WHEN Richard Brock landed under fire on Gold Beach in Normandy on D-Day, his band of brothers was 130 strong. Eleven months later, after they fought relentlessly across Europe — and World War Two was finally over — only 19 made it home. 5 Today, on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Richard, 100, says: 'I'm the last of them left alive. Our story must never be allowed to die with me.' That story begins on June 6, 1944, when D Company of the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment landed on Gold Beach during the biggest military invasion in history. Through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, they fought in some of the war's biggest battles — Normandy, Arnhem and the Battle of the Bulge. They fought in the final showdown with the Nazis near Hamburg as Germany finally surrendered on May 8, 1945. Richard says of his 111 fallen comrades, now commemorated in military cemeteries: 'I'm sad but very proud for the sacrifice they made for us all. They gave their lives for the peace we enjoy today.' Father-of-three Richard, from Lancaster, adds: 'We were the support troops in the second wave. The lads who went in first were all right because the Germans didn't know what was happening. By the time we landed, they were throwing everything at us. 'I was driving a lorry full of ammunition. Later, a driver got injured so I had to take over a Bren gun carrier and drive it through Normandy. There were shells coming in everywhere. The Germans were trying to take our heads off.' Later, D Company sent out a ten-man patrol to scout. They never came back. Richard says: 'We came across those lads, all of them, lying dead.' D Company did, though, take prisoners of war and, in one of their pockets, Richard found photos of Holocaust architect Heinrich Himmler. He says: 'There was also a photo of a woman. I asked who it was. He said his mother. I tore up her picture in front of his face. After, I felt sick. It had brought me down to his level. But you're full of hatred.' VE Day was a 'jolly' moment but work went on, 100-year-old former Wren says After taking the vital Hill 112 near Caen, at Falaise Gap, the Americans, Canadians and British surrounded the German 7th Army. Death and devastation stretched for miles. Richard says: 'The stench was atrocious — hundreds of bodies of German soldiers and horses littered the ground.' By September 1944, D Company had reached Antwerp in Belgium. But during a 48-hour rest stop, Richard was nearly killed. He says: 'Four of us decided to watch Buffalo Bill at the Rex Cinema, which had been taken over by the military. But first, we went to a cafe. I was the last to leave when there was a terrific blast. Cargo of whisky 'I was blown across the cafe and the ceiling came down. Pals pulled me out of the debris and took me to the first-aid station. I learnt later that a V2 rocket had hit the cinema and hundreds died, including a lot of our lads. It was never reported. I was very lucky. Going to the cafe had saved our lives.' After eight days' fighting, the British captured the Dutch city 'S-Hertogenbosch. Richard says: 'As we advanced, a German officer came up on horseback. We let him have it and the horse got killed, too. 'A few minutes later, people came out of their cellars with knives and cut up the horse. They were starving.' Richard's war took him to the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944, where land forces joined Allied air troops to strike across the River Rhine into Germany. The East Lancs' first target was the bridge at Nijmegen, but they arrived late. Germans had blown it up and captured hundreds of British airborne personnel. So Richard's convoy was sent instead to fight alongside the Americans at the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium's Ardennes region. 5 5 5 He says: 'We drove from Holland and arrived on Christmas Eve. There was no Christmas dinner that year — only bully-beef sandwiches.' After pushing the enemy back, D Company crossed into Germany and headed for Hamburg and the last battle of World War Two. On the way, Richard saw the horrors of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp a day after liberation. He says: 'That stench hit you. Hundreds were dead and dying. That sight will live with me for ever. I said to my co-driver, 'Where is God to allow such suffering?'.' Afterwards, the East Lancs advanced to their last engagement with the enemy, near Rothenburg. Rumours swirled of a surrender and Richard saw the German High Command drive past with white flags flying. Amid the rubble of Hamburg docks on VE Day, Richard found a cargo of John Haig whisky. He says: 'All the lads were gifted a bottle and it made their day.' Despite VE Day, Richard was still armed and rounding up rogue fighters. By the time his war was finally over, Richard, by then a 23-year-old sergeant, returned to Lancaster to marry sweetheart Patricia, who had moved from Birmingham to escape bombing. Pat and master butcher Richard were happily married for over 75 years. He says: 'If it hadn't been for Hitler, we'd never have met. Fate brought us together.' He kept in touch with his 18 comrades who made it home, and they met monthly at Fulwood barracks in Preston, as one by one they died. Richard, who on Thursday will light a beacon at Lancaster Castle to mark 80 years since VE Day, says: 'War is no good to anybody, and I hope the latest generation of lads won't have to go in again.'
Scottish Sun
05-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
I landed on D-Day with 130 comrades but a year later only 19 went home – my story must NEVER die with me
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHEN Richard Brock landed under fire on Gold Beach in Normandy on D-Day, his band of brothers was 130 strong. Eleven months later, after they fought relentlessly across Europe — and World War Two was finally over — only 19 made it home. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Hero centenarian Richard Brock landed under fire on Gold Beach in Normandy on D-Day, his band of brothers was 130 strong Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun 6 Only 19 of his fellow soldiers made it home - pictured as young member of D Company Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun Today, on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Richard, 100, says: 'I'm the last of them left alive. Our story must never be allowed to die with me.' That story begins on June 6, 1944, when D Company of the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment landed on Gold Beach during the biggest military invasion in history. Through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, they fought in some of the war's biggest battles — Normandy, Arnhem and the Battle of the Bulge. They fought in the final showdown with the Nazis near Hamburg as Germany finally surrendered on May 8, 1945. Richard says of his 111 fallen comrades, now commemorated in military cemeteries: 'I'm sad but very proud for the sacrifice they made for us all. They gave their lives for the peace we enjoy today.' Father-of-three Richard, from Lancaster, adds: 'We were the support troops in the second wave. The lads who went in first were all right because the Germans didn't know what was happening. By the time we landed, they were throwing everything at us. 'I was driving a lorry full of ammunition. Later, a driver got injured so I had to take over a Bren gun carrier and drive it through Normandy. There were shells coming in everywhere. The Germans were trying to take our heads off.' Later, D Company sent out a ten-man patrol to scout. They never came back. Richard says: 'We came across those lads, all of them, lying dead.' D Company did, though, take prisoners of war and, in one of their pockets, Richard found photos of Holocaust architect Heinrich Himmler. He says: 'There was also a photo of a woman. I asked who it was. He said his mother. I tore up her picture in front of his face. After, I felt sick. It had brought me down to his level. But you're full of hatred.' VE Day was a 'jolly' moment but work went on, 100-year-old former Wren says After taking the vital Hill 112 near Caen, at Falaise Gap, the Americans, Canadians and British surrounded the German 7th Army. Death and devastation stretched for miles. Richard says: 'The stench was atrocious — hundreds of bodies of German soldiers and horses littered the ground.' By September 1944, D Company had reached Antwerp in Belgium. But during a 48-hour rest stop, Richard was nearly killed. He says: 'Four of us decided to watch Buffalo Bill at the Rex Cinema, which had been taken over by the military. But first, we went to a cafe. I was the last to leave when there was a terrific blast. Cargo of whisky 'I was blown across the cafe and the ceiling came down. Pals pulled me out of the debris and took me to the first-aid station. I learnt later that a V2 rocket had hit the cinema and hundreds died, including a lot of our lads. It was never reported. I was very lucky. Going to the cafe had saved our lives.' After eight days' fighting, the British captured the Dutch city 'S-Hertogenbosch. 6 Richard says: 'As we advanced, a German officer came up on horseback. We let him have it and the horse got killed, too. 'A few minutes later, people came out of their cellars with knives and cut up the horse. They were starving.' Richard's war took him to the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944, where land forces joined Allied air troops to strike across the River Rhine into Germany. The East Lancs' first target was the bridge at Nijmegen, but they arrived late. Germans had blown it up and captured hundreds of British airborne personnel. So Richard's convoy was sent instead to fight alongside the Americans at the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium's Ardennes region. 6 Richard's story begins on June 6, 1944, when D Company of the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment landed on Gold Beach Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun 6 After pushing the enemy back, D Company crossed into Germany and headed for Hamburg and the last battle of World War Two Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun 6 Richard said: 'War is no good to anybody, and I hope the latest generation of lads won't have to go in again' Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun He says: 'We drove from Holland and arrived on Christmas Eve. There was no Christmas dinner that year — only bully-beef sandwiches.' After pushing the enemy back, D Company crossed into Germany and headed for Hamburg and the last battle of World War Two. On the way, Richard saw the horrors of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp a day after liberation. He says: 'That stench hit you. Hundreds were dead and dying. That sight will live with me for ever. I said to my co-driver, 'Where is God to allow such suffering?'.' Afterwards, the East Lancs advanced to their last engagement with the enemy, near Rothenburg. Rumours swirled of a surrender and Richard saw the German High Command drive past with white flags flying. Amid the rubble of Hamburg docks on VE Day, Richard found a cargo of John Haig whisky. He says: 'All the lads were gifted a bottle and it made their day.' Despite VE Day, Richard was still armed and rounding up rogue fighters. By the time his war was finally over, Richard, by then a 23-year-old sergeant, returned to Lancaster to marry sweetheart Patricia, who had moved from Birmingham to escape bombing. Pat and master butcher Richard were happily married for over 75 years. He says: 'If it hadn't been for Hitler, we'd never have met. Fate brought us together.' He kept in touch with his 18 comrades who made it home, and they met monthly at Fulwood barracks in Preston, as one by one they died. Richard, who on Thursday will light a beacon at Lancaster Castle to mark 80 years since VE Day, says: 'War is no good to anybody, and I hope the latest generation of lads won't have to go in again.'
The Irish Sun
05-05-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
I landed on D-Day with 130 comrades but a year later only 19 went home – my story must NEVER die with me
WHEN Richard Brock landed under fire on Gold Beach in Normandy on D-Day, his band of brothers was 130 strong. Eleven months later, after they fought relentlessly across Europe — and World War Two was finally over — only 19 made it home. Advertisement 6 Hero centenarian Richard Brock landed under fire on Gold Beach in Normandy on D-Day, his band of brothers was 130 strong Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun 6 Only 19 of his fellow soldiers made it home - pictured as young member of D Company Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun Today, on That story begins on June 6, 1944, when D Company of the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment landed on Through France, Belgium, They fought in the final showdown with the Nazis near Hamburg as Germany finally surrendered on May 8, 1945. Advertisement Read More on UK News Richard says of his 111 fallen comrades, now commemorated in military cemeteries: 'I'm sad but very proud for the sacrifice they made for us all. They gave their lives for the peace we enjoy today.' Father-of-three Richard, from Lancaster, adds: 'We were the support troops in the second wave. The lads who went in first were all right because the Germans didn't know what was happening. By the time we landed, they were throwing everything at us. 'I was driving a lorry full of ammunition. Later, a driver got injured so I had to take over a Bren gun carrier and drive it through Normandy. There were shells coming in everywhere. The Germans were trying to take our heads off.' Later, D Company sent out a ten-man patrol to scout. They never came back. Richard says: 'We came across those lads, all of them, lying dead.' Advertisement Most read in The Sun D Company did, though, take prisoners of war and, in one of their pockets, Richard found photos of Holocaust architect He says: 'There was also a photo of a woman. I asked who it was. He said his mother. I tore up her picture in front of his face. After, I felt sick. It had brought me down to his level. But you're full of hatred.' VE Day was a 'jolly' moment but work went on, 100-year-old former Wren says After taking the vital Hill 112 near Caen, at Falaise Gap, the Americans, Canadians and British surrounded the German 7th Army. Death and devastation stretched for miles. Richard says: 'The stench was atrocious — hundreds of bodies of German soldiers and horses littered the ground.' Advertisement By September 1944, D Company had reached Antwerp in Belgium. But during a 48-hour rest stop, Richard was nearly killed. He says: 'Four of us decided to watch Buffalo Bill at the Rex Cinema, which had been taken over by the military. But first, we went to a cafe. I was the last to leave when there was a terrific blast. Cargo of whisky 'I was blown across the cafe and the ceiling came down. Pals pulled me out of the debris and took me to the first-aid station. I learnt later that a V2 rocket had hit the cinema and hundreds died, including a lot of our lads. It was never reported. I was very lucky. Going to the cafe had saved our lives.' After eight days' fighting, the British captured the Dutch city 'S-Hertogenbosch. Advertisement 6 Richard says: 'As we advanced, a German officer came up on horseback. We let him have it and the horse got killed, too. 'A few minutes later, people came out of their cellars with knives and cut up the horse. They were starving.' Richard's war took him to the Advertisement The East Lancs' first target was the bridge at Nijmegen, but they arrived late. Germans had blown it up and captured hundreds of British airborne personnel. So Richard's convoy was sent instead to fight alongside the Americans at the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium's Ardennes region. 6 Richard's story begins on June 6, 1944, when D Company of the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment landed on Gold Beach Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun Advertisement 6 After pushing the enemy back, D Company crossed into Germany and headed for Hamburg and the last battle of World War Two Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun 6 Richard said: 'War is no good to anybody, and I hope the latest generation of lads won't have to go in again' Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun He says: 'We drove from Holland and arrived on Christmas Eve. There was no Christmas dinner that year — only bully-beef sandwiches.' After pushing the enemy back, D Company crossed into Germany and headed for Hamburg and the last battle of World War Two. Advertisement On the way, Richard saw the horrors of the He says: 'That stench hit you. Hundreds were dead and dying. That sight will live with me for ever. I said to my co-driver, 'Where is God to allow such suffering?'.' Afterwards, the East Lancs advanced to their last engagement with the enemy, near Rothenburg. Rumours swirled of a surrender and Richard saw the Advertisement Amid the rubble of Hamburg docks on He says: 'All the lads were gifted a bottle and it made their day.' Despite By the time his war was finally over, Richard, by then a 23-year-old sergeant, returned to Lancaster to marry sweetheart Patricia, who had moved from Birmingham to escape bombing. Advertisement Pat and master butcher Richard were happily married for over 75 years. He says: 'If it hadn't been for Hitler, we'd never have met. Fate brought us together.' He kept in touch with his 18 comrades who made it home, and they met monthly at Fulwood barracks in Preston, as one by one they died. Richard, who on Thursday will light a beacon at Lancaster Castle to mark 80 years since Advertisement
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Time of India
Zeeshan threat: Home dept transfers case to crime cranch
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Home Department on Thursday transferred the probe into an alleged email threat received by former MLA Zeeshan Siddiqui to the Mumbai Crime Branch . The decision comes in light of the seriousness of the threat, which mentioned underworld links and demanded a hefty extortion amount of Rs 10 crore. Baba Siddiqui was shot dead on October 12 last year and the Bishnoi gang had claimed the responsibility. Police have arrested 26 persons and have invoked the stringent act of MCOCA on the case. Zeeshan had approached the Bandra police on Monday after receiving an email claiming to be from the infamous 'D Company.' The sender not only threatened him with dire consequences but also demanded the extortion amount. Cyber experts assisting the Bandra police traced the origin of the email to a server located in Canada. Police have, for now, ruled out any direct involvement of the Bishnoi gang or the D Company. Investigators suspect the threat may be a hoax or a stunt by an unknown group trying to instill fear or gain notoriety. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "Taking note of the seriousness in the threat and in the backdrop of Zeeshan's father Baba Siddiqui's murder, the government has handed over the case to us. We will explore all angles to trace the email sender," a senior Crime Branch official said. tnn
Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Indian Express
Threat emails to Zeeshan Siddique traced to server near US: Police
THE MUMBAI police, probing the threat emails received by former MLA and NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique, have been traced to a server located in a country near the US. The sender of the mails claims to be linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim's 'D Company'. Police said prima facie the person sending the mails doesn't appear to be linked to any gang. Police are, however, conducting further technical probe to confirm the server they have tracked down is the one used by the accused and not one obtained via Virtual Private Network (VPN). In the threat mails that Zeeshan received over two days, the person demanded Rs 10 crore as ransom failing the sender threatened he would meet the same fate as his father Baba Siddique, who was gunned down in October last year allegedly by members of the Bisnoi gang. The sender sent him reminder emails every six hours, which prompted him to approach the Bandra police who registered an FIR against unidentified persons. A police source said, 'The server from which the email was sent has been traced to a country near America. It appears to be the actual server from which the mail was sent and not one obtained through VPN though we are still reconfirming that.' When asked if the sender was linked to any gang, the officer said prima facie he does not appear to be linked to any gang or organisation. However, we are not taking any chances and have reviewed the security of Zeeshan in light of the threat, the officer added. Last year, threat mails sent to actor Salman Khan were found to have originated in the UK. In that case, the police had found it was an Indian student who had gone to the UK to study, who sent the mail as a prank following which a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him. The moment he lands in India, the police will be alerted and the person will be arrested. The officer said, 'On several occasions people based abroad, especially those of Indian origin, feel if they send an email from another country, they will not be traced or land in trouble. It is, however, not true and we take proper legal action to ensure that whenever the person tries to move out of that country, they are detained at the airport.'
